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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Welcome Home!

Well, we got Mom home from the rehabilitation center this morning. She is completely wiped out, but she did fairly well. We all had to make some adjustments with medicines, diabetic diet, blood sugar and just the over all able to move around in such a small place. I think we did good and hopefully tomorrow will be even better. As soon as we got home, Dad wanted Mom sitting up in her chair in the Living Room. Well, that wasn't going to get it because her diaper needed to be changed. Before he left to get close to 14 prescriptions filled and all of the stuff for her diabetes, we moved her into the bed room. I needed her in there to change, wipe down, lather her up with some lotion (very dry skin), and do some exercises. Dad was scared to death that I would want her to stay in bed the rest of the day. Actually, we needed to go by how Mom felt. She did pretty good doing the leg exercises, but we were not able to get to all of them. I let her rest for about 20-25 minutes before her exercises. I guess our exercise session lasted about 30 minutes before Dad showed up. While she rested, I was going between making her some pudding, jello and Crystal Light drink (all sugar-free) and answering the phone. People were just checking in on Mom and seeing if we got home alright. They were so excited to hear that she was actually home for a change. Mom ate 1/2 a cup of Chicken Noodle Soup, I warmed up for her, a bite or two of cornbread and most of her milk. Dad and I went through all of her medicine. It helps him if you put what each prescription is for on the bottles. I drafted out a meal journal and medicine chart. This is in order to keep everything straight and a little organized. Maybe it will help. I got to learn a lot about glucose meters, strips & lancet. Ugh! Poor Mom was our ginnea pig for both Dad and I. We know absolutely nothing about diabetes and how to check for sugar. I believe we ended up pricking 4 or 5 of Mom's fingers just to get some blood and getting the meter to work correctly. She'll be so sore by tomorrow. Her count ended up being 122 when I checked it. Poor thing! Now that I know what I'm doing, it will be a lot better on her. I gave her her first insulin shot tonight. Dad and I feel that she should normally have her insulin shot in the morning time, starting tomorrow. Maryann brought over some supper. After Mom ate, she said that she thought she had to go to the bathroom. Well, I high tailed it into the bedroom and grabbed her bedside toilet. I'm so happy for her, she pee-peed in the potty. tehe! We were all jumping for joy. If you don't know the story, she's been on so many medicines since late December and she's had a catheter that her bladder has forgotten how to function properly. The doctors said that it will come back slowly. She said she felt the sensations, so that is great. I left shortly after putting a diaper back on her and we set her back in her chair.

Peggy and Millard kept baby girl for us, while I went with Dad this morning. Actually, she spent the night with them. She loves spending the night with anyone. As long as she is going some where, it doesn't matter really where. She's funny! They seemed to have a great time, of course. Peggy is helping me out with potty training Katie. She is doing so well when it comes to potty training. I couldn't be happier, I just hope that it sticks. Peggy said she pee-peed several times at their house and she pee-peed twice when we got home tonight. Both times, she told me she had to go to the bathroom. After she pee-peed, she told me (all big eyed) that she gets a prize now. I hope she continues to improve. Doug met us at Peggy and Millard's for supper. I was starved because I forgot to eat lunch and my sausage biscuit from Jack's at 7:45 a.m. was long gone by 8:00 p.m. I just had so much I had to prepare for Mom and Dad that lunch came and went before I knew it.

I have to run a few errands in the morning, but I plan to visit with Mom. I want to get a couple of games for Katie that we all (Mom, Katie and myself) can play together. I'm also going to get maybe some checkers, 1000+ pieces jigsaw puzzle, and maybe a word search or two. For any of you that want to send Mom something, just a suggestion, anything simple that she can use her mind. Being enclosed around 4 walls for 4 months has really screwed up her brain function. The doctor said it would be great if we can do anything to get her mind to working. This is why she has so much trouble functioning - feeding herself, clothing herself, standing, sitting, walking, etc. The brain waves telling her muscles and body to do something isn't making the connection, if you know what I mean. I'm going to try to make an effort to play games, crafts and read Sunday School Lessons that have questions at the end of the lesson. Please feel free to volunteer if you can.

Susan, Jon, and Leslie are suppose to come by later tomorrow afternoon to visit and I believe Sue is bringing supper. We are hoping Mom will feel like washing her hair. I wanted to today, but she was just too tired. Maybe we can come up with a plan, in case the shower doesn't work for her. Wish us luck!

3 comments:

Mi,i read your blog and the part about giving your mom the shot in the morning stuck out. I wanted to tellyou to please check with the doctor if they didn't tell you all anything about that.. With mine it would make a huge difference what time a day i was to take it. All insulin shots are made differently .. some work to control it after one meal some work all day.. but it really depends on her. I assume they will tell you to give it in the morning for an all day insulin but It could be only an 8 hour one or something so please ask about it if no one has. Sorry if i sound paranoid i just know how much it means for her to be home to all of you and i don't want anything to go wrong for you all and i'm sure that if her sugars get out of control that would be a relapse. Sounds like you did a wonderful job yesterday. Congrats on finally getting your mom home. We will send something soon. At least a letter and some pictures of lilly. love you all!

thanks for the update. We appreciate it. I guess it's a good thing mom is coming down there for a bit in May. Sounds like there is a lot going on. You guys are doing such a great thing. THANK YOU. We will be looking for a brain stimulator for her. Have you guys ever thought about that Nintendo We? For her? I always see things about how great it is for coordination and for physical therapy. Maybe we should all go in together if you think she will be interested. We love you all. Give Grandma love from our family!